INVASIVE REMOVAL
Removal of invasive plant species is a foremost priority. It isn’t easy work. Pulling weeds all day requires careful physical labor, along with a keen attention to the environment we are working in.
About a half mile across at its widest point, the landscape rises more than 160 feet above sea level with an estuary and small creek splitting the property into two very different and changing environments.
Large fields of grass surrounded by skinny trunks of crowded Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) sit atop a thin topsoil heavily composed of clay. During the wet months these fields fill with water, becoming a sticky impasse for anything other than foot travel. Moving toward the western side of the property, the earth slopes down toward the estuary and creek, where western red cedars (Thuja plicata), bigleaf maples (Acer macrophyllum), Pacific madrones (Arbutus menziesii) and firs litter the ground with a thick layer of decaying material.
Walking around we watch each season come and go. We notice where some plants like to grow, and in other areas, small nooks during the coldest months become a small creature's home.
Mechanical removal of invasive species is the main way we clean up our forests because it allows us to observe the changing environment, while interacting with the environment as carefully and least destructively as we can. We do not use herbicides such as Glyphosate, instead in a limited capacity we use 30% vinegar. Most of the removal is done by hand with small tools.
INVASIVE DISPOSAL
During this project a few avenues of invasive plant disposal have been attempted. In the beginning we burned piles of mixed Japanese honeysuckle and English ivy. Deciding that was detrimental to air quality, we chose to rent dumpsters and have the material disposed of at the dump. This was better for air quality but required several trips, using gas and increasing our carbon footprint. This was also an expensive option. Finally, we experimented with several compost piles and have found a system that breaks down the material over time and if done correctly does not have any regrowth.
We did an experiment to systematically measure the impact of composting on English Ivy. We found that over a period of a year with monthly measurements, the amount of organic material decreased by more than 50% in every trial.
Clearings Created for Forest Health
GOATS FOR INVASIVE CONTROL
We employ our goats to help maintain areas with a high volume of blackberry, honeysuckle, and poison oak. Once they have cleared an area, new native plants are either planted or if necessary, the goats will return to the area once undesirable plants come back.
